1 Corinthians 10:13

DISCOURSE: 1972
THE SECURITY OF GOD’S TEMPTED PEOPLE

1 Corinthians 10:13. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

WE are ever prone to run into the opposite extremes of presumption and despair. To check the former, we should reflect upon the manifestations of God’s wrath; and to avoid the latter, we should bear in mind the promises of his mercy. With this view St. Paul sets before the Corinthian Church the judgments that had been executed on the Israelites in the wilderness; but lest they should turn his warnings into an occasion of despondency, he assures them, that God himself had engaged to keep all who diligently sought him, and humbly relied upon him.
His words naturally lead us to point out,

I. The temptations of God’s people—

Many, doubtless, are the temptations with which the godly are beset—
[It seems from the preceding context that the word “temptation” is to be understood in its most extended sense, as comprehending every thing which might endanger their steadfastness in the ways of God. The world strives to ensnare them both by terrors and allurements — — — The flesh strongly inclines them to gratify its appetites — — — and Satan labours incessantly to beguile them by his wiles and devices [Note: Satan can easily assume the appearance of “an angel of light:” and he does so especially when he stirs up religious professors to distract the minds of the simple with matters of doubtful disputation, and thus to turn the weak, and the conceited, and the vain, “from the simplicity that is in Christ.”] — — —]

But the temptations of all are such only as others experience in common with themselves [Note: Ἀνθρώπινος may signify also proportionable to human strength; but the common translation seems perfectly just.]—

[All are ready to suppose that there are none tempted like them: but if we knew the experience of others, we should find that, “as face answereth to face in a glass, so does the heart of man to man” — — — All indeed are not tempted exactly in the same manner or the same degree (for there are temptations peculiar to men’s age and condition in life) but there are none so singularly tried, but that there are many others in similar circumstances with themselves; and the ascertaining of this point often affords much consolation and encouragement to tempted souls.]
Nor are there any trials so great but that believers may be confident of,

II.

Their security in the midst of them—

God himself is interested in their behalf; and they may safely rely on,

1. His power—

[“That they may not be tempted above that they are able,” he will proportion their trials to their strength. Are they at present too weak to endure hardship? He will delay its approach [Note: Exodus 13:17.]: or, if he permit it to come upon them, he will weaken its force [Note: Psalms 76:10 and Isaiah 27:8.]: and, if they be likely to faint under it, he will shorten its duration [Note: Psalms 125:3 and Isaiah 57:16.] — — — If he do not see fit m any of these ways to lighten the temptation, he will proportion their strength to their trials, so that, if there be not a way to escape, they at least “may be able to bear them.” This he effects sometimes by communicating more abundant grace [Note: 2 Corinthians 12:9.], and sometimes by filling them with the consolations [Note: 2 Corinthians 1:4.] of his Spirit, and giving them near prospects of the glory that awaits them [Note: 2 Corinthians 4:16; Romans 8:18.]. Thus will he “keep them by his power unto everlasting salvation.”]

2. His faithfulness—

[No man, however eminent, could stand, if left to himself: Satan would sift us as wheat, and scatter us as chaff [Note: Luke 22:31.]; but God has promised that “he will keep the feet of his saints;” that “sin shall not have dominion over them;” that “none shall pluck them out of his hands;” that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.” “Nor shall one jot or tittle of his word ever fail:” “He is not a man that he should lie, or the son of man that he should repent.” He has exhausted all the powers of language in labouring to persuade us of this truth, that he will never forsake his people [Note: Hebrews 13:5. Here are no less than five negatives in the Greek.]; and they may safely rest on him “with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”]

Address—
1.

Those who are conflicting with temptation—

[What a blessed promise is that before us! What can God himself say more for your encouragement? Dry up your tears: know that “as your day is, so shall also your strength be:” “there are more for you than against you:” trust therefore in Him who “knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation,” and “is able both to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy [Note: 2 Peter 2:9 and Jude, ver. 24.].” But do not say, “God will keep me, and therefore I will rush into temptation:” such an abuse of his mercy as this would surely bring with it the most tremendous evils. We are to trust God when in trouble; but not to tempt God by exposing ourselves to danger without a cause.]

2. Those who are yielding to temptation—

[The generality complain, “That they cannot resist temptation,” and yet they venture continually into those very scenes which most endanger their virtue. What hypocrisy is this! If flesh and blood be, as they justly acknowledge, so weak and frail, why do they not flee from the occasions of sin? and why do they not cry unto God for help? Let all know that their impotency is no just excuse; that all shall receive succour if they will but seek it; and that “God’s strength shall be perfected in their weakness [Note: Hebrews 2:18; Hebrews 4:15.].” But if we will not repent of our sins and turn unto God, the power and faithfulness of God are engaged against us, and will be glorified in our everlasting destruction.]